ADF

The Cameroon Army is equipping its special forces with Turkish-made MPT-76 assault rifles. Developed in the late 2000s for the Turkish military, the MPT-76 is often likened to the AR-15 rifle and shares visual similarities with the German HK-417, according to The Defense Post. The rifle is chambered for NATO-standard 7.62x51mm ammunition. The first prototypes were built in 2008 using smaller ammunition but were poorly received by Turkish Soldiers. It was redesigned for NATO ammo. It has a 20-round magazine and fires 650 rounds per minute. The MPT-76 comes in three barrel lengths, but the version used by Cameroon is…

Tunisia is on track to buy an undisclosed number of 20-meter Archangel patrol boats from the United States at an estimated total cost of $110 million. The purchase will include GPS, navigation and communications systems, and training. “The proposed sale will better equip Tunisia to contribute to shared security objectives, promote regional stability, and build interoperability with the United States and Western partners,” the U.S. State Department announced. It added that the Tunisian Navy uses such boats for “search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, and other maritime-related operations to ensure security in the country and region.” Tunisia bought similar Archangels…

Nigeria’s Proforce has introduced a new armored vehicle, the PF Hulk, designed for military troop and equipment transportation. The company said the mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle can withstand an 8-kilogram antitank mine under any wheel and under the center, and armor-piercing rounds and high-explosive shells. It can carry up to 10 people and supports the installation of weapon systems and other special equipment. It also can tow trailered systems. It has a range of 1,000 kilometers. The Hulk is the latest on a growing list of Proforce armored vehicles. In July 2022, the company unveiled the lightweight PF Fury vehicle,…

Interpol’s Cybercrime Directorate in Singapore ranked the Nigeria Police Force – National Cybercrime Center first among 54 African countries in 2024. Among other achievements, the center recoverd $5.6 million in stolen funds, arrested 751 people suspected of cybercrime and seized 785 devices used in attacks. Nigeria is the most cybercrime-affected country in Africa and has launched programs to combat crimes such as identity theft, SIM card-related crime and ransomware. The country has acted to modernize its laws to keep up with new crimes. “We cannot succeed in the fight against cybercrime in isolation,” said Mohammed Isah, head of Interpol’s Cybercrime…

Liberia signed a deal with SpaceX’s Starlink that it hopes will expand internet access across the country. The licensing agreement launched in November 2024 with promises to bring satellite-based internet services to homes in even the most remote corners of Liberia. “For the first time in our country’s history, we are making universal internet access a reality,” said Liberian Telecommunications Authority Acting Chairperson Abdullah Kamara. “This agreement will allow Starlink to deliver high-speed internet to every village, town and community, no matter how remote. It is a proud moment.” When complete, the service could boost internet coverage from 60% to…

As Ghana prepared for presidential elections, Chief of Defence Staff Lt. Gen. Thomas Oppong-Peprah warned of misinformation and propoganda campaigns designed to sow division in the country. Speaking at the opening of Cyber Awareness Month in October 2024, he stressed “the need to build the capacity of citizens to detect, prevent the proliferation of cyber threats.” He also pledged that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) would play a support role in keeping the country safe as the December 2024 elections approached. “The Ghana Armed Forces is ready to support civil authorities and other security agencies to ensure Ghana remains a…

Senegal’s emergency medical team became the first in Africa to receive World Health Organization certification for its ability to respond to health crises.  The recognition means the team can deploy to emergencies globally within 72 hours of being activated and set up a 30-bed hospital that can provide medical and surgical care for up to 2,500 patients per month. It is a milestone that “significantly boosts” Africa’s emergency response capacity, the WHO reported.  Senegal’s Type 2 Emergency Medical Team (EMT), made up of military health professionals and under the direction of the Army, underwent a rigorous, six-year process to earn…

The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) is expanding its domestic military training capability by establishing a Noncommissioned Officer Academy.  In December 2024, 40 students completed a nine-week pilot course at the AFL’s Armed Forces Training Center at Camp Ware. Each branch of the AFL was represented, and three female NCOs were among the graduates. “I cannot overemphasize the importance of professional education in the military,” the AFL’s Command Sgt. Maj. Plazian B. Kuoh, senior enlisted advisor at the Armed Forces Training Center, told ADF. “It is the function and responsibility of every commander to lead, develop and achieve. To achieve…

The number of mercenaries operating in African countries has grown in recent years, led by Russia’s former Wagner Group. In response, the African Union is working to curb the destructive impact of foreign fighters and provide oversight through a 40-article draft convention and policy brief on mercenary involvement. The convention, which would be an update of one enacted in 1977, could include provisions for monitoring human rights abuses committed by mercenaries and tougher penalties for countries that employ foreign fighters. “We must take a stand to eradicate this scourge and ensure it respects our sovereignty,” said Pupurai Togarepi, a parliamentarian…

Details of the life of Queen Achivanjila, who ruled the Makua people in what is now Mozambique during the late 19th century, have been passed down from generation to generation. The history lacks some details, but it is clear that the queen faced formidable obstacles. Her kingdom is now known as Niassa, a sparsely populated province in northern Mozambique. She is believed to have ruled from about 1865 until about 1870, when Portugal was the colonial power in her land. She had to negotiate a political path of keeping the Portuguese at bay while convincing her people that she had…